Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.8 Software Synthesizer

THE must-have software synth. Import any audio source, or choose from hundreds of waveforms and thousands of presets -- and even control via hardware synths.

Spectrasonics Omnisphere Software Synth (Mac and Windows)

No longer available at zZounds
If you get just one software synth, this is it! Spectrasonics' revolutionary Steam Engine takes the Omnisphere beyond the stratosphere of music-making.

The Omnisphere offers total control over your sound, with high-level tweaking and detailed precision at your fingertips. You get variable waveshaping, DSP and granular synthesis, polyphonic ring modulation, chaos envelopes, and much, much more. With over 40 GB in the core library, you'll never run out of sounds. This Mac and Windows compatible software synth features eight arpeggiators with groove lock, real-time tweaking in live mode, and hours of video tutorials.

Synthesis Reimagined

Creating sounds out of the ether requires a basic understanding of synthesis structure. Spectrasonics' Steam Engine in Omnisphere makes the process as straightforward as possible. Want to create a stinging bass lead? Omnisphere gives you an easy-to-navigate, easy-to-understand layout. Keep the Steam Engine structured as it is, or go all out and detailed with a modular base. You get DSP and granular synthesis, plus much more wave-altering technology to dial in that tone you're looking for, from ultra-realistic sounds to unheard-of creations.

40 Gigs of Core Sounds

Spectrasonics Omnisphere provides over 40 GB of core sounds to start with. Those sounds can be used as a starting point to mangle or refine a specific sound you were looking for. Spectrasonics uses a pioneering Composite Morphing Techniques to generate harmonic resonances that you normally lose from traditional sampling instruments. Out of the work found in the Atmosphere the Omnisphere has updated, added, and refined its read more samples, which sound 10-times as good. Spectrasonics Omnisphere is both Mac and Windows compatible and is a fitting culmination of years of research and development.

The STEAM Engine

In 2009, Spectrasonics revolutionized the synth world with the release of the STEAM synthesis/sound engine. Virtual instruments built with the multitimbral STEAM Engine offer many development possibilities into a variety of hybrid synthesis and control capabilities including high-resolution Streaming Sample Playback, Integrated FX, Variable Waveshape synthesis, Granular synthesis, FM synthesis, polyphonic Ring Modulation, Timbre Shifting, and a comprehensive Flex-Mod modulation routing system, to name a few. Virtual instruments powered by STEAM also have unlimited expansion possibilities. The core software is flexible and open, allowing patches to be shared across hosts and computer platforms. Spectrasonics can also add new patches and sounds to the core library giving the user an ever-expanding sonic palette. In addition, all Spectrasonics virtual instruments based on S.A.G.E. and STEAM technologies can interact in musically useful and innovative ways for a smoother creative flow.

Features:

- 40 GB of sounds, from traditional instruments to unique Spectrasonics creations
- STEAM engine is built for deep sound editing and creation, with tools like Variable Waveshaping DSP synthesis, Granular synthesis, Timbre Shifting, FM, polyphonic Ring Modulation, high-resolution streaming Sample Playback, Harmonia and much more
- Omnisphere is cross-platform compatible with Apple Macintosh OS X 10.4 and higher as a native Universal Binary, and also with Microsoft Windows XP/Vista
- Audio Units, VST, and RTAS plug-in formats are supported for compatibility with all major host software
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System Requirements

- 2GB or more of RAM
- Dual Layer compatible DVD-ROM drive
- 50GB of free hard drive space

Mac Recommendations

- 2.0 GHz or higher processor
- G5 PowerPC compatible - Intel Core2Duo or higher recommended
- OSX 10.4.9 or higher
- AudioUnit, VST 2.4 or RTAS capable host software
- Native Universal Binary for Intel Macs

Windows Recommendations

- Pentium 3.0 GHz or higher (Intel Core2Duo recommended)
- VST 2.4 or RTAS capable host software
- Microsoft XP SP2 or later
- Microsoft Vista compatible

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-764-9379 or 818-955-8481
Email: info@spectrasonics.net
Web: https://www.spectrasonics.net/support

Spectrasonics Omnisphere Software Synth

After many years of development, Spectrasonics is proud to release the flagship virtual instrument Omnisphere. This epic 'Power Synth' breaks sonic ground by combining a wide variety of hybrid realtime synthesis techniques, an epic library of remarkable 'Psychoacoustic' sounds, and many innovative features that have never been seen before in any hardware or software synthesizer. The instrument is the first to be based on Spectrasonics Steam Engine.

Although this synth is extremely powerful, Omnisphere is designed with a unique user interface containing progressive layers of 'zooming' to accommodate the complete range of users - from musicians who just want to be inspired by the sounds and customize them in an easy way, to expert synthesists and the most advanced sound designers. Users can go deeper and deeper into the software and progress in their synthesis knowledge by simply exploring additional levels of sound manipulation options. To make sure that all users get the most out of the capabilities, Omnisphere includes an extensive set of video tutorials and synthesis lessons taught by the renown Spectrasonics sound design team.

Omnisphere offers a host of hybrid synthesis and control capabilities including Variable Waveshaping DSP synthesis, Granular synthesis, Timbre Shifting, FM, polyphonic Ring Modulation, high-resolution streaming Sample Playback, Harmonia(TM), Dual Multimode Filter structure, Chaos Envelopes(TM), an advanced Unison mode, and the innovative Flex-Mod(TM) modulation routing system - to name a few.

The huge core library of Omnisphere is filled with years of creative sampling experiments and thousands of inspiring patches. Spectrasonics has pioneered several types of sampling for the core library of this instrument, including unique "Psychoacoustic" sounds and soundsources created with a Composite Morphing Technique (CMT) - which morphs the harmonic characteristics of one instrument to another. As a bonus, a section of the core library is also devoted to representing the best of Spectrasonics award-winning sample libraries. When all of these organic core library soundsources are combined with the synthesis power of the Steam engine, the sounds become "alive" in a truly dynamic and expressive way.

Among the many unique features this multitimbral synth offers are its flexible arpeggiators with the innovative Groove Lock(tm) integration with Stylus RMX - allowing the arpeggiator's pattern to instantly groove with the feel of the RMX drum loop; Live Mode for transitionless patch switching and layering, Stack Mode for powerful performance mapping; and integrated modulatable FX Racks.

Omnisphere is also the successor to Spectrasonics' popular Atmosphere(r) instrument, and contains enhanced versions of all the classic Atmosphere sounds. However, the core library in Omnisphere is 10-times the size of Atmosphere and features thousands of different sounds.

The culmination of many years of development, Omnisphere is an instrument of extraordinary power and versatility. Omnisphere brings many different types of synthesis together into one amazing-sounding instrument that will inspire a lifetime of exploration.

Omnisphere is cross-platform compatible with Apple Macintosh OS X 10.4 and higher as a native Universal Binary and also with Microsoft Windows XP/Vista. Audio Units, VST, and RTAS plug-in formats are supported for compatibility with all major host software.

System Features

- Powerfully simple interface design makes key features accessible to every user
- Advanced users can "zoom" into deeper and deeper synthesis capabilities
- Sophisticated Browser with searching, sound attributes, descriptions and images
- 8 independent Arpeggiators
- World's first Arpeggiator with Groove Lock(tm) - which allows the Arpeggiators to match the feel of Stylus RMX and MIDI Files.
- Special performance-oriented Live Mode interface allows for seamless, interactive creative patch switching and layering on the fly
- Stack Mode interface allows for complex patch layering, splits, and crossfades (velocity/positional/controller)
- 8-part multitimbral with built-in Mixer, Aux FX and Mastering FX racks
- Advanced MIDI Learn and Automation parameter handling
- Comprehensive integrated Reference Guide
- Hours of free Tutorial Videos available online to registered users

Synthesis Features

- Oscillators can be sample-based or synth-based
- Up to 10 oscillators per patch with Harmonia(tm) feature
- Flex-Mod(TM) modulation system allows powerful modular-style routing
- Dual Layer architecture
- High-definition streaming engine
- Variable DSP Oscillator Waveshapes
- Sophisticated Unison Detuning
- Variable Analog Feel
- Modulatable Hard Sync
- Granular Synthesis
- Innovative Chaos Envelopes
- Polyphonic Timbre Shifting
- Polyphonic Timbre Crushing
- Polyphonic Waveshaper
- Polyphonic Ring Modulation
- Polyphonic Glide
- FM Oscillators
- Dual Filter architecture per Layer
- Create filter combinations in series or parallel
- Arrange and blend more than 17 Filter algorithms
- Fully modulatable FX racks
- Alternate tuning scales supported
- 6 full-featured LFOs per patch
- 8 Advanced Multi-breakpoint looping Envelopes per patch
- Unique Dual Envelope interface - Simple ADSR-style or Advanced Graphic-style
- Sampled soundsources can be processed with synthesis features!

Sound Library

- Vast Core Library - over 40GB with thousands of sounds
- Cutting-edge sounds from the renowned Spectrasonics sound design team
- Innovative "Psychoacoustic" soundsources for organic synthesis!
- Unique multisampled "Composite Morphing(tm) soundsources
- Integrates the award-winning, original Atmosphere core library
- Integrates best of Spectrasonics highly-acclaimed sample libraries
- Massive variety of inspiring sounds for all types of music production
- Searchable by sound attributes (Timbre, Genre, Mood, Tonality, Source, etc)
- Expandable sound architecture

Effects Features

- Integrated, full-featured FX Racks
- Up to 12 simultaneous FX per patch
- Layer FX modulatable from any mod source
- Hundreds of FX presets included
- Over 32 original FX Processors covering the full spectrum of signal processing

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (42 ratings)
Submitted March 8, 2011 by a customer from hotmail.com

Spectrasonics Omnisphere Customer Review

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Sound
The sound is like none other. It totally stands out. The sound quality is top notch and would be hard to rival. When I play it, it works perfectly. There are no skips or jumps when playing. Some sounds are a lot different than others, and are sometimes hard to find a place for in a song if it isn't creatively used. By itself on tracks it sounds amazing, and exemplifies quality. With other sounds it blends very well, and does not make the track sound jumbled together unless of course your other sounds are low quality, and even then, if used creatively, can sound amazing. I have not personally used it in a live setting, but I am sure it could be used that way easily.
Features
The most useful feature is being able to blend synthesized sounds with live acoustic sounds.
Ease of Use
It is easy to use if you want to put in a little bit of effort to understand what each thing does, but if you are familiar with synthesizers, romplers, or anything like that, navigating this puppy will be an adventure by itself.
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